Table of Contents
Introduction
Scoobert-Doo, better known as Scooby-Doo, is a cartoon character and one of the main protagonists in the animated media franchise of the same name. The franchise was developed by an American Animation Company named Hanna Barbera for the CBS channel.
The story chronicles the story of five characters, Scooby-Doo included. Fred Silverman, CBS’s head of daytime programming, took inspiration from one of the lyrics in a Frank Sinatra song for Scooby-Doo’s name.
But what breed is Scooby-Doo? In this article, let’s get to know the inspiration for this loveable character, the Great Dane.
Physical Appearance of Scooby-Doo
What breed is Scooby-doo? While designing Scooby-Doo, production designer Iwao Takamoto paid heed to a Great Dane breeder who described to him the physical features of a purebred dog.
Ultimately, he ended up designing a character with attributes opposite to that of a Great Dane but still kept some essential features of a Great Dane.
Scooby-Doo is described as a dog with a dominant brown complexion and some black spots around his upper body. He has a black nose, bowed legs, long tail, slanting chin, and a blue-green collar wrapped around his neck.
His tail that go for miles can be used to press buttons while both his tail and pliant head can be utilized for communication purposes and for creating distractions.
Besides displaying some human characteristics and being able to speak broken English, albeit having a speech defect in which he starts almost every word with the letter R, another one of his unique features is that he has four toes on each foot.
Personality of Scooby-Do
Scooby-Doo, like his best friend Shaggy Rogers, possesses a streak of cowardice. As a result, most of his friends encourage him to go on daring adventures with them to fend off villains.
Scooby’s loyalty, however, summons and unleashes the bravery in him whenever his friends get caught in danger. These characteristics of him make him an interesting and amusing character.
History of Great Dane
Great Danes were originally bred by Germans to hunt wild boars. As a result, they used to be called Boar Hunts. Sometime in the 1700s, a French naturalist bumped into a version of a Boar Hunt that was slimmer and looked more like a Greyhound in appearance.
This may be due to his towering height and huge size, but he called this dog Grand Danois, meaning Big Danish in English.
Attributes of a Great Dane
Regal in appearance, but soft-hearted in the heart, a Great Dane is generally a sweet and affectionate pet. This makes him ideal to be around children and he loves to play with them.
His well-formed and muscular build gives him an aura of elegance and power. Despite his intimidating, towering build; Great Danes are approachable and friendly.
Grooming
Just like any other dog, a Great Dane requires regular grooming. Although their short coat sheds very little and thus requires minimal brushing, his nails grow swiftly.
His nails need to be trimmed frequently with a nail clipper or grinder to avoid overgrowth that may cause breaking or spitting. His ears should also be checked regularly to remove wax or dirt build-up. His teeth must also be brushed routinely.
Food
Whatever you’re going to feed your dog is largely dependent on his size. Each dog has unique needs and his diet needs to be customized to cater to his necessities.
It is highly suggested that you visit his veterinarian to determine the best meal plan that will work for him.
Health
Great Danes are mostly healthy. Bust just like any breed, he can still be exposed to certain ailments. It is essential to have knowledge of these to be able to address them promptly if ever he catches one of them. Below are some ailments usually found in Great Danes.
1. Panosteitis
This is a bone disorder characterized by limping and lameness. This is caused by inflammation of a growing long bone.
2. Hip Dysplasia
This ailment is also a bone disorder, but one that is hereditary. This disorder is the common cause of lameness in the rear legs of our dogs and results in abnormal hip joint development.
Since it is hereditary, unfortunately, some dogs have been lame since birth. One symptom of this is visible pain in the hips when walking.
3. Heart Disease
The majority of dogs are not susceptible to coronary heart disease unlike us, humans.
However, they can suffer from certain heart ailments including, but not limited to heart failure, a chronic valvular disease that occurs once the valves begin to weaken with age, and myocardial disease that happens when the heart enlarges due to weakening of the muscle.
It is important that you see a veterinarian immediately when you see visible discomfort or any abnormalities to prevent further damage.
Final Thoughts
Not all Great Danes are Scooby-Doo but just the same, Great Danes are loyal, friendly, and bound to keep your life more interesting. Shower your dog with love and attention.
Keep in mind that just like any breed, Great Danes require a proper diet plan, enough exercise, and regular grooming. Be sure to visit his vet regularly for his check-ups.
If you have some more questions or insights, please don’t hesitate to leave them down below.